FROM AUGUST 2015'S RECRUITER MAGAZINE

Over the past 11 years I have changed jobs, started a business, had people leave my teams and hired people from other businesses. In all instances there is one overriding question that needs to be addressed: Why do you want to move? I don’t mean the reason that is proffered at first-stage interview but I mean the real motivation.

Now while I agree that the majority of the time these reasons will be heartfelt and logical, this blog doesn’t do ‘heartfelt’. So let us instead focus on those recruiters with more sinister reasons for change and the real  reasons lurking beneath. We have all met them. Again, I must reiterate that in most instances, the following are genuine reasons but this is recruitment, and we are a cynical bunch, so here are my top 10:

(1) “I wasn’t given the correct tools to succeed” Did you have a phone and a computer? If so the only tool lacking is initiative. Real Reason: Not very good at job.

(2) “There weren’t the career opportunities I was promised” Are there no managers or directors in the business? Is it run entirely by consultants? There is progression. Just not for you. Real Reason: Not very good at job.

(3) “The commission scheme wasn’t good enough” You have to make deals to earn commission. If you come in under a threshold each month then no, it is probably not great. Real Reason: Not very good at job.

(4) “The commute is getting too much” – You did interview in person for the job and do the same commute, right? You were challenged by your employer as to whether you could handle that commute? Real Reason: Not very good at job.

(5) “The company is not growing” – Well, it won’t if you don’t bill anything! Real Reason: Not very good at recruitment.

(6) “I have achieved what I was brought in to do” Really? It says here on your CV it was a permanent role not a contract. Real Reason: Not very good at recruitment.

(7) “The culture has become too KPI [key performance indicators] driven” This has not seemed to have affected your colleagues who make phone calls and work hard. Real Reason: Not very good at recruitment.

(8) “The training was not what was promised” Training doesn’t include someone actually doing your business development calls on your behalf. Real Reason: Not very good at recruitment.

(9) “The market was bad” The wrong market? Even in 2008 plenty of financial recruiters were still making money. Real Reason: Not very good at recruitment.

(10) “I didn’t get enough 

support from my manager” You just said you prefer autonomy in your job. Real Reason: Not very good at recruitment.

Making this list brings back memories of being asked why I wanted to start my own business.

“To expand skill sets and get exposure to different elements of business, not just the sales,” I replied. Real Reason: Not very good at recruitment.

And if your personal scenario fits one or more of those above, do not despair — your perfect company can often be just around the corner. Just make sure you talk about what you could achieve in a more suitable environment and not why you didn’t in another.

Matt Churchward is director at The Green Recruitment Company